Panther Girl of the Kongo
Encyclopedia
Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955
) is a Republic
movie serial. It used a lot of stock footage
from the 1941 Republic serial "Jungle Girl
". This was the penultimate (sixty-fifth of sixty-six) serial produced by Republic. As with any serial produced in this period, it is not considered to be the best of the medium.
Panther Girl of the Kongo mixes several stock serial plots including the "land grab", exotic location, jungle girl and mad scientist
.
Morgan wants sole access to secret diamond mines in the local area of Africa. In order to accomplish this he breeds giant crayfish
("Claw Monsters") to scare away any other inhabitants. Jean Evans, the Panther Girl, and friend Larry Sanders encounter this plot while on a photo safari in the region.
was $179,341 (a $6,548, or 3.8%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1955.
It was filmed between 16 August and 4 September 1954 under the working title
Panther Woman of the Kongo. The serial's production number was 1939.
In order to make it possible to use significant stock footage
from the earlier Jungle Girl
, and cheaply pad out Panther Girl of the Kongo, a duplicate costume was used. As a result, Republic's last female lead wore the same costume as its first.
This was followed by a re-release of Jesse James Rides Again
instead of a new serial. The last new serial, King of the Carnival
, followed in the summer.
Source:
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
) is a Republic
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
movie serial. It used a lot of stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
from the 1941 Republic serial "Jungle Girl
Jungle Girl (serial)
Jungle Girl is a 15-Chapter Republic Pictures Serial starring Frances Gifford. It was directed by William Witney and John English based on the novel Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs...
". This was the penultimate (sixty-fifth of sixty-six) serial produced by Republic. As with any serial produced in this period, it is not considered to be the best of the medium.
Panther Girl of the Kongo mixes several stock serial plots including the "land grab", exotic location, jungle girl and mad scientist
Mad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
.
Plot
Mad ScientistMad scientist
A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if...
Morgan wants sole access to secret diamond mines in the local area of Africa. In order to accomplish this he breeds giant crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
("Claw Monsters") to scare away any other inhabitants. Jean Evans, the Panther Girl, and friend Larry Sanders encounter this plot while on a photo safari in the region.
Cast
- Phyllis CoatesPhyllis CoatesPhyllis Coates is an American film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men, and during the first season of the Adventures of Superman television series.-Early life and career:After graduating from high...
as Jean Evans, the Panther Girl - Myron HealeyMyron HealeyMyron Daniel Healey was an American actor. He began his Hollywood, California, career during the early 1940s in bit parts and minor supporting roles at various studios.-Early years:...
as Larry Sanders, a big game hunter - Arthur SpaceArthur SpaceCharles Arthur Space was an American film, television and stage actor. He was best known as Doc Weaver in the long running television series, Lassie.-Career:...
as Dr Morgan, a Mad ScientistMad scientistA mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous or antagonistic, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if... - John Daheim as Cass, one of Dr Morgan's henchmenHenchmanHenchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household...
- Mike Ragan as Rand, one of Dr Morgan's henchmen
- Morris Buchanan as Tembo
- Roy GlennRoy Glenn-Career:Glenn's career spanned five decades, beginning in radio with shows such as Amos 'n Andy and The Jack Benny Show. He made numerous appearances on television, from its early days until 1970. His first film appearance was in 1937; his career included roles in A Raisin in the Sun , with Sidney...
as Chief Danka
Production
Panther Girl of the Kongo was budgeted at $172,793 although the final negative costNegative cost
Negative cost is the cost of actually producing and shooting a film. It does not include such costs as distribution and promotion.Low-budget movies, for example The Blair Witch Project, can have promotional expenses that are much larger than the negative cost.The term comes from the costs up to the...
was $179,341 (a $6,548, or 3.8%, overspend). It was the most expensive Republic serial of 1955.
It was filmed between 16 August and 4 September 1954 under the working title
Working title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
Panther Woman of the Kongo. The serial's production number was 1939.
In order to make it possible to use significant stock footage
Stock footage
Stock footage, and similarly, archive footage, library pictures and file footage are film or video footage that may or may not be custom shot for use in a specific film or television program. Stock footage is of beneficial use to filmmakers as it is sometimes less expensive than shooting new...
from the earlier Jungle Girl
Jungle Girl (serial)
Jungle Girl is a 15-Chapter Republic Pictures Serial starring Frances Gifford. It was directed by William Witney and John English based on the novel Jungle Girl by Edgar Rice Burroughs...
, and cheaply pad out Panther Girl of the Kongo, a duplicate costume was used. As a result, Republic's last female lead wore the same costume as its first.
Stunts
- Tom SteeleTom Steele (stuntman)Tom Steele was a stunt man and actor, best remembered for appearing in serials, especially those produced by Republic Pictures, in both capacities.-Early life:...
as Larry Sanders (doubling Myron Healey) - Helen Thurston as Jean Evans/Panther Girl (doubling Phyllis Coates)
- Dave SharpeDave SharpeDave Sharpe was an American actor and stunt performer.He was called the "Crown Prince of Daredevils" and ranks alongside Yakima Canutt as one of Hollywood's all time greatest stuntmen...
as Panther Girl (doubling Phyllis Coates via stock footage from Jungle Girl) - Fred GrahamFred Graham (actor)Fred Graham was an American actor and stuntman, who performed in scores of films from the 1930s. A semi-professional baseball player, Graham appeared mainly in Westerns, doing stunts and playing opposite John Wayne among others. He also featured alongside Wayne in several films with director...
as Nick Burgass
Theatrical
Panther Girl of the Kongos official release date is 3 January 1955, although this is actually the date the sixth chapter was made available to film exchanges.This was followed by a re-release of Jesse James Rides Again
Jesse James Rides Again
Jesse James Rides Again is a Republic film serial.-Cast:* Clayton Moore as Jesse James* Linda Stirling as Ann Bolton. It was during filming of this serial that Linda Stirling met her future husband Sloane Nibley.* Roy Barcroft as Frank Lawton...
instead of a new serial. The last new serial, King of the Carnival
King of the Carnival
King of the Carnival is a Republic movie serial. It contains a substantial amount of stock footage from the earlier Republic serial Daredevils of the Red Circle. This was the last serial ever made by Republic and is often considered to be one of the worst produced by that company...
, followed in the summer.
Television
Panther Girl of the Kongo was one of twenty-six Republic serials re-released as a film on television in 1966. The title of the film was changed to The Claw Monsters. This version was cut down to 100-minutes in length.Critical reception
Cline believes that the greatest problem that faced the writers was how to lead the heroine from one piece of stock footage to the next.Chapter titles
- The Claw Monster (20min)
- Jungle Ambush (13min 20s)
- The Killer Beast (13min 20s)
- Sands of Doom (13min 20s)
- Test of Terror (13min 20s)
- High Peril (13min 20s)
- Timber Trap/Double Trap (13min 20s)
- Crater of Flame (13min 20s)
- River of Death (13min 20s)
- Blasted Evidence (13min 20s) - a re-cap chapter
- Double Danger (13min 20s)
- House of Doom (13min 20s)
Source: